10. An Earl Claims His Future Countess

Meanwhile, back at the Castlewait townhouse

Anticipation. Excitement. Trepidation. Nervousness.

All of these and more had Persephone trembling when she and Jack were finally back in the master suite. She slid a hand along the collar of his velvet robe to push it from his shoulder, her palm barely touching his heated skin.

He inhaled sharply at her caress and lifted the hand from where it smoothed over the bare skin above his upper chest. "I apologize for having fallen asleep earlier. We were discussing important matters."

"It's all right," she whispered, using her free hand to push the robe from his other shoulder. She had expected they would already be on the bed. Wished he was atop her and doing to her what he had so masterfully done all those years ago. The pleasure he had imparted had been extraordinary. Intense and all-consuming. Intoxicating. "I'm rather surprised you could sound so coherent after what you suffered this evening."

He kissed her lips and then her jaw. "I had more to say," he whispered. "I have more to say."

When one of his hands smoothed over a silk-covered breast to gently mold it, Persephone nearly jerked from his hold. "Could we maybe talk afterwards?"

Jack chuckled as he pulled back to regard her with an expression of curiosity. "You're trembling," he said, sobering.

"Of course I am. You have me..." Her hand slid down the front of his body until it reached the nest of curls above his turgid manhood. Her fingers slid around the base of his member and gently squeezed. The skin there felt as velvety as the robe that had fallen to his feet.

One of his hands briefly covered hers as he groaned his appreciation. "Aroused?" he guessed. His hand let go of hers, the palm sliding between her thighs to discover the dark curls were already damp. He used his middle finger to press against her swollen womanhood, jerking when she tightened her hold on him at the same moment she cried out.

If he didn't get her on the bed right now, they would end up on the floor.

"Come, my sweet," he whispered, pulling her hand from his member so he could lift her into his arms. He placed her on the bed and undid the bow that held her silk wrapper closed. Peeling the edges apart, he lowered his head to one breast and kissed its engorged nipple.

"I already have. Now it's your turn," she said, her hand once again reaching for his manhood.

He chuckled at her comment, finally climbing onto the bed so he hovered over her. "You do know that there will be repercussions?" he murmured, before his mouth covered the other breast.

Persephone jerked as she moved her hands to the sides of his head, her thumbs at his temples. "Repercussions?" she repeated, giving a start when his teeth gently bit her nipple.

"Yes, my Sephie. You're going to marry me," he said, moving his kisses down the front of her body and one hand to the space between her thighs.

She inhaled sharply. "Why do make it sound so...? Oh!"

Jack chuckled into her belly, which had her squirming. "You're going to be my countess," he said. He had her knees spread wide and his mouth pressed against one thigh.

"You make it... sound so... so ominous," she responded between gasps for air. When his tongue touched her womanhood and circled it, she hummed as her head arched back into the pillow. Sure he was going to leave her on the precipice of a release she desperately needed unless she gave him an answer, she mewled and said, "It would be my honor."

He shoved his tongue inside her, the rough texture sending her over the edge of the precipice and into an ocean of pleasure waves. Although she didn't know where one began and another ended, Jack certainly seemed to. He was up and over her, burying his cock into her at the very moment another wave of pleasure crashed.

Persephone's knees gripped his thighs as he thrust into her over and over. When his body suddenly stilled and the cords of his neck appeared in relief as he lifted his head, she knew he had finally allowed his own release. Heat filled her lower body.

Knowing what to do to prolong his pleasure, she tightened her inner muscles so she gripped him harder. She slid a hand down the side of his body until her fingertips could reach his stiff sac to lift it. She hummed when he jerked in her hold and grinned when she heard his quiet curse before he finally, slowly, lowered himself to lay half atop her.

His head landed on the pillow between her neck and shoulder. "Damn, but I've missed you," he whispered. A moment later, and his body relaxed.

At first, Persephone was sure he had fallen asleep, so she was surprised when his lips captured her earlobe and gently nibbled it. She gave a start and then purred. "I've missed you as well."

They lay quietly for a few minutes, Persephone well aware when his manhood finally softened. Jack lifted himself from her body and rolled onto the bed, one arm bent and landing above his head while he slid the other behind her shoulders to pull her against his side. She expected he had fallen asleep, so she was startled when he turned and kissed the top of her head.

"I didn't mean for my proposal to sound so... so daunting," he murmured.

She grinned. "I was curious about that," she admitted.

He tightened his hold on her. "You've been running the Castlewait earldom until your son is old enough?"

Surprised by the change in topic, she shrugged in his hold. "I have. It's no different from running the household," she replied on a sigh. "Arrange goods and services where needed. Pay the invoices. Keep a ledger."

Chuckling softly, Jack asked, "Will you help me with mine?"

She angled her head in the small of his shoulder so she could better see him. "Of course."

He kissed her on the lips and then settled his head back into the pillow.

Once again, Persephone was sure he had gone to sleep when he said, "Am I mad to think I should give Kravets some sort of gift when I pay a call on him later today?"

Persephone lifted herself onto an elbow and stared down at him. "Whatever for?" she asked in alarm.

Jack shrugged in the pillow. "Well, if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be here. Like this," he said.

Scoffing, she stared at him as if he were mad. "If it wasn't for him, we would have found one another during the ball tonight," she countered. "We would have danced—twice—and we would have ended up in the gardens, where I would have invited you to join me in my bed before the supper was served." She huffed. "We could have made love two or three times by now."

Jack regarded her for a long moment, a grin spreading over his face as he pondered her words. "All right. So no gift for the baron," he said. He lifted himself onto an elbow and kissed her. "Maybe I'll plant a facer on him instead."

A snort erupted from Persephone. "If you don't, I will."

He let out a guffaw. "I'm so glad I ended up in your coach. And I promise I'll make up for the lost time later," he murmured.

Giving him a prim grin, Persephone lowered herself back onto the bed. "I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to life with you."

He chuckled again as he collapsed back onto the bed and wrapped his arms around her. "I'll remember you said that when you learn the state of my earldom," he murmured.

A few seconds later, and he was sound asleep.

Persephone would have joined him in slumber, but his last remark had her worried. Concerned. Nervous and excited.

Challenge accepted, she thought as she dozed off.